How can you encourage waste reduction through behavior change?

1 Why behavior change matters

Reducing waste is not only a matter of providing adequate infrastructure, such as bins, recycling facilities, or composting systems. It also depends on how people use these services and whether they adopt more sustainable habits. Behavior change is the process of influencing people's actions, attitudes, and beliefs to achieve a desired outcome. In the context of waste reduction, behavior change can help people reduce their consumption, reuse or repair items, recycle or compost materials, and avoid littering or dumping.

3 How to apply behavior change models

Behavior change models are frameworks that explain how and why people change their behaviors. These models can help identify the factors that influence an audience's decisions and actions, as well as the steps they need to take to achieve the desired behavior. Common models include the Stages of Change Model, which outlines the stages of precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance in behavior change; the Theory of Planned Behavior, which suggests that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control shape people's behaviors; and the Social Cognitive Theory, which emphasizes self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and social influences in behavior formation.

4 How to choose behavior change techniques

Behavior change techniques are specific methods that you can use to modify or reinforce your audience's behaviors. These techniques can be classified into categories such as information, feedback, rewards, prompts, commitments, social support, or modeling. You should choose the techniques that best suit your goals, audience, and context. For instance, you can use information to raise awareness and educate your audience about the benefits and consequences of waste reduction. Feedback can provide data and comparisons about their waste generation and reduction performance. Rewards offer incentives or recognition for reducing their waste. Prompts remind them to perform the desired behavior. Commitments ask them to pledge or sign up for waste reduction actions or programs. Social support encourages them to share their experiences with others who are also trying to reduce their waste. Modeling shows examples of successful waste reduction behaviors by peers or role models.

5 How to evaluate and improve your strategy

Evaluating and improving your strategy is an essential part of behavior change. It allows you to measure the effectiveness and impact of your interventions, and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your approach. You can use various methods to evaluate your strategy, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, audits, or experiments. You can also use indicators and metrics to quantify and compare your results, such as waste generation, waste diversion, waste composition, or waste reduction behaviors. Based on your evaluation, you can adjust and refine your strategy to enhance its outcomes and sustainability.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?